Apparatus for handling linear elements

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for processing a plurality of glass strands into a wound package in a glass filament forming operation. The apparatus includes two strand guide members that have notches communicating with strand guide spaces defined by converging guide surfaces each forming an angle greater than 180 degrees and substantially smaller than 270 degrees. The converging guide surfaces are oriented to facilitate movement into the notch of a strand or filament introduced into the guide space.

United States Patent 11 1 1451 June 28, 1974 Gelin et al.

[ APPARATUS FOR HANDLING LINEAR 3,054,277 9/1962 3165611116.", 242/157 Rx 3,168,390 2/1965 Theobald 65/11 R ELEMENTS 3,371,877 3/1968 Klink etal.. 242/18 G Inventors: Robert J- Gelm, Newark, 3,414,956 12/196806111611 242/18 0 x James f j Jackson Tenn FOREIGN PATENTS ORAPPLICATIONS [73] AwgmeZ F'berglas 417,136 9/1934 Great 131116111 28/54Corporation, Toledo, Ohio [22] Filed: Feb. 27, 1973 PrimaryExaminer-Stanley N. Gilreath [211 pp NOJ 336,315 Attorney, Agent, orFzrm-Staehn & Overman ABSTRACT [52] U.S. Cl 242/42, 28/54, 65/11 W,

242/18 G 242/157 R Apparatus for processmg a plurality of glass strands[51 1111.131... B65h 54/02, B6511 57/04, B65h 57/16 i j 5 [58] Field 61Search... 242/42, 18 G, 157 R, 157 c; opera 6 aPPaa es e members thathave notches commumcatmg wIth 65/11 R, 11 W, 28/54, 55, 57/106, 107

strand guide spaces defined by convergmg guIde surfaces each forming anangle greater than 180 degrees [56] References Clted and substantiallysmaller than 270 degrees. The con- UNITED STATES PATENTS verging guidesurfaces are oriented to facilitate move- 2,363,205 1 H1944 Smith 242/42X ment into the notch of a strand or filament introduced 2,377,1735/1945 Nelson 242/157 R into the guide space 2,690,313 9/1954 McDermott242/157 R 2,945,636 7/1960 Lenk 242/42 18 Claims, 8 Drawing FiguresPAIENTEBJIIRZB mm Sam 5; 2 3821543 mi A Fig 2 APPARATUS FOR HANDLINGLINEAR ELEMENTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In processing continuousfilament glass strands and rovings it is sometimes necessary to supplysimultaneously more than one individual strand or roving to one or morepackages. But prior apparatus has failed to function fully satisfactoryin such operations.

It has been a practice to use guiding members or shoes to establishdesired spaced apart side-by-side operating strand paths along whichstrands advance to a collecting package or packages. One type of priorart shoe uses spaced apart extensions defining spaced apart slitsthrough which individual strands are advanced. But the closeness of theextensions required to keep an integral and controllably roundedfilament bundle often fails to allow passage of enlarged strand regions.And these regions of increased cross sectional size can occur withconsiderable frequency in operations like the production of continuousglass filaments. The result has been strands that are broken by guideshoes. And these breaks effect undesirable disruption in continuousprocessing operations.

Another type of prior art guide shoe uses circular guide openings forstrands. But when these circular openings of the shoes are sufficientlylarge to allow passage of strand portions of enlarged cross section, it

(like the other shoes) does not impart good strand integrity androundness. And the somewhat flattened strands have edge regions that aresubject to damage.

A guide shoe having circular openings have been improved to includenotches. In such an arrangement the strands travel through the notchesalong the desired paths to the collection region. When an enlargedstrand portion arrives at the shoe, the strand is normally pushed fromthe notch into the larger circular opening when the enlargement is ableto pass. Tension in the traveling strand should return it to the notchfor continued processing.

But this improved guide shoe has not been adequate to provide reliableguidance of strands into the notches. When the strand remains in thecircular opening and hence does not become notched, the strands so processed have the disadvantages described herein.

An improvement was needed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front elevation view ofapparatus according to the principles of the invention simultaneouslycollecting a plurality of side-by-side glass strands into a single woundpackage in a continuous glass filament forming operation. Upper andlower strand guide shoes are shown.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the upper filament gather and strandguide shoe or member shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 the upper and lower guide members areidentical; however, their orientation with respect to the apparatus isdifferent.

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged plan view of one of the guide openings ofthe upper guide member shown in FIG. 3'. Forward and rearward notchesare illustrated.

FIG. 5 is yet a more enlarged view of one of the forward guide notchesforming part of one of the guide openings of the member shown in FIGS. 3and 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of one of the guide openings in another guidemember according to the principles of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of one of the guide openings in still anotherguide member according to the principles of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of another guide member according to theprinciples of the invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is improvedapparatus for processing one or more flexible linear elements.

Another object of the invention is an improved guide used insimultaneously handling a group of linear elements.

Still another object of the invention is a guide for reliably processinga plurality of tensioned linear elements into individual guide notches.

These and other objects are attained by apparatus including guide meansfor a tensioned flexible linear element that defines a notch throughwhich the linear element is extended along an operational path; thenotch is laterally spaced from a temporary path given to the element.And the guide means includes spaced apart converging opposed guidesurfaces for facilitating movement of the element into the notch; theguide surfaces converge in a direction generally towards the temporarypath to the mouth of the notch. Each of the opposing surface portionsdefining the notch at its mouth meet with one of the converging guidesurfaces to form an angle larger than and substantially less than 270.Further, the guide means provides an opening for lateral introduction ofthe linear element from its temporary path into the space between theconverging guide surfaces. Tension in the linear element laterally urgesit towards the temporary path and into contact with one of the guidesurfaces after introduction into the space. The contacted guide surfaceis disposed with respect to the temporary path such that the directionalong which the linear element is urged by tension towards such path andthe orientation of the contacted guide surface maintain an obliquerelationship with each other throughout movement of the linear elementalong the guide surface into the notch.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the invention isdescribed in more detail with reference made to the accompanyingdrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIGS. 1 and 2 show a continuousfilament forming operation where apparatus gathers continuous glassfilaments into a number of side-by-side bundles or strands. A winderpulls the side-by-side oriented glass strands downwardly along givenpaths and collects them as a single wound package. A filament gatheringand strand guide means combines the glass filaments into an initialgenerally planar array of side-by-side strands; another strand guidemeans, which is below the first means, turns the array of strand forcollection into the wound package by the winder.

As illustrated a container or feeder 10 holds a supply of molten glass.The container 10 is normally made of platinum or an alloy of platinum.And the container 10 can connect to a forehearth that supplies moltenglass from a furnace or can connect to other means for supplying glass.For example, the container 10 can be connected with glass marblesupplying apparatus that a melter or other means associated with thecontainer 10 reduces to a heat-softened condition.

Located at the ends of the container 10 are terminals 12. Theseterminals connect to a source of electrical energy to supply heat to themolten glass in the container 10 by conventional resistance heating.This heat maintains the molten glass at proper filament formingtemperatures and viscosities.

The container 10 includes a bottom wall 14 that has a plurality oforifices or passageways for delivering streams 16 of molten glass. Inthe embodiment shown the orifices in the bottom wall 14 comprise aplurality of depending orificed projections or tubular members 18. I

The molten streams 16 are attenuated into individual continuous glassfilaments 20. And these are combined into a planar array of spaced apartside-by-side bundles or strands 22 by a filament gathering and guidemeans in the form of a shoe member 24 located below the container 10.

The filaments 20 are protected by an application of water and aconventional liquid sizing or other coating material. A nozzle 26located near the bottom wall 14 sprays water onto the newly formedfilaments 20 prior to the filaments 20 being combined into the strands22. An applicator 28 supported within a housing 30 applies sizing orother coating material to the filaments 20. The applicator 28, which islocated immediately above the guide shoe 24, can be any suitable meansknown to the art; however, the applicator 28 as shown is an endless beltthat is moved through sizing or coating liquid held in the housing 30.As the filaments 20 travel across the moving surface of the applicator28, some of the liquid on the surface transfers to them.

From the initial filament gathering and guide shoe 24 the array ofside-by-side strands 22 is advanced downwardly to engage a second guideshoe member 34. As shown the shoe 34 turns the plane of strand travel 90from the planar orientation effected by the shoe 24.

The strands 22 are advanced from the shoe 34 by a winder 40 andcollected as a wound package 42. Strand traversing apparatus in the formof spiral wires 44 mounted on a driven rotatable shaft 46 moves theadvancing strands 22 back and forth lengthwise (axially) of the package42 during package build. The strands 22 are wound upon a collector suchas a tube 48 that has been telescoped over a spindle or collet 50journalled for rotation on the winder 40. Conventional drive meanswithin the winder 40 rotates the collet 50 and the spiral wire shaft 46.Further, means within the winder 40 effects slow reciprocal motion ofthe spiral wire shaft 46 lengthwise of the package 42. US. Pat. No.2,391,870 describes the operation of a winder like the winder 40.Further, US. Pat. No. 3,276,945 describes in considerable detail thetype of intermittently integrated strand product collected into thepackage 42 by the winder 40.

Referring to FIG. 2 it can be seen that in the embodiment shown thelocation of the upper shoe 24 is effective to slightly bend thefilaments 20 on the surface of the applicator 28. In practice the planein which the filaments 20 travel to the shoe 24 is commonly from to fromthe vertical. The individual groups of gathered filaments 20 (strands22) are turned on the shoe 24 in a direction opposite to the turn of thefilaments on the applicator 28. In practice the strands 22 leaving theshoe 24 travel along paths that are commonly 10 to 20 from the vertical.

In preparing for formation of a package an operator arranges thefilaments 20 to travel along given temporary paths for collection as asingle bundle on the outward end of the collet 50. This temporary patharrangement for the filaments 20 is indicated in FIG. 2 as a dashed linedenoted as START-UP PATH. In traveling along their temporary start-uppaths the filaments 20 converge at the collet 50 and collect as thesingle bundle outwardly of an empty collection tube 48.

Before commencement of package formation the advancing filaments 20 aregrouped into a number of bundles or strands 22. Four strands areindicated into the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 as an example only. Theoperator laterally moves the grouped filaments from their temporarystart-up paths into individual guide spaces defined by the shoe 24.Tension in the filaments 20 (strands 22) moves the filaments of theindividual groups towards their original paths and against guidesurfaces defining individual guide spaces. Tension in the filaments 20(strands 22) effects filament movement along the guide surfaces intonotches defined by the member. The individual groups of filaments orstrands turn on the member 24 in the notches during package formation asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The operator subsequently laterally moves the strands 22 from temporarypaths below the member 24 into notches formed in the shoe 34.

Throughout package build the strands 22 are held in spaced apartside-by-side relationship by the shoes 24 and 34. And these shoes guidethe strands 22 along desired strand paths throughout package build.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the members 24 and 34 areidentical.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the shoe 24. As shown the shoe 24 isa thin elongatedmember having four adjacent side-by-side elongatedopenings 56 therethrough aligned in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the member. Each of the elongated openings 56 hasopposing notches or recesses 60 and 60 at its end regions. As shown inFIG. 3 the notches 60 and 60 are the same size and are on thelongitudinal axis 61 of each of the openings 56. During packageformation the filaments 20 are combined into individual bundles orstrands 22 as they are advanced through one of the notches. Thefilaments 20 are turned on the member 24 at the closed end of thenotches.

The member 24 (and member 34) should be made of material that does notabrade the glass filaments. In practice good results have been obtainedusing a resintextile laminate commercially known as Micarta; thislaminate uses a phenolic resin to bond layers of fibrous material (suchas linen and duck) together. Further, the surfaces of the members arefinished to ensure smooth even surfaces having rounded edges to reducedamage to the glass filaments and to allow barrier free movement ofglass filaments (strands) across them.

The openings 56 are shown as elliptical or oval in shape except for thenotches 60. In operation, elliptically shaped openings have given goodresults in facilitating guidance of filaments 20 (strands 22) into thenotches 60 and 60.

The member or shoe 24 provides each of the openings 56 with a passageway62 for introduction of filaments (strands 22) into the openings 56. Thepassageways 62 are shown extending parallel to each other in a directionoblique to the longitudinal axis of member 24. The forward edge of themember 24 includes entrance guide surfaces 63 that give guide assistduring entrance of the filaments 20 and strands 22 into the opening 56.In practice, these surfaces 63 commonly form an angle (angle A in FIG.3) of from 45 to 60 with the longitudinal axis of the member 24. But theparticular angle A depends upon the lateral spacing between the openings56.

All of the elongated openings 56 are shown as the same size. Further,they all have the same orientation in the member 24. So their major orlongitudinal axes are parallel each other. One of the longitudinal axesis shown in FIG. 3 and is denoted by the reference numeral 61. Inpractice, it has been useful to have each of the axes 61 extend in adirection that forms an angle (angle B in FIG. 3). And commonly angle Bis between 60 and 85 with the longitudinal axis of the member 24; anangle B of about 80 is preferred. The passageways 62 are shown orientedin oblique relationship with the axes of the openings 56.

The shape of the openings 56 provide two zones for guiding linearelements such as filaments or strands into the notches 60 and 60. InFIG. 4 a dashed line denoted by the reference numeral 64 separates theopening 56 into a forward guide zone 66 and a rearward guide zone 68.Each of these zones operates on the same principle. So only the forwardzone 66 will be discussed in detail.

In FIG. 4 it can be seen that the member 24 provides the forward zone 66of each of the openings 56 with a surface 70 defining the notch 60within which the filaments 20 (strands 22) travel during packageformation. Further, the forward zone 66 is provided with spaced apartguide surfaces 72 and 74 converging to the mouth or entrance 76 of thenotch 60. The surface 70 includes opposing surface portions 78 and 80 atthe mouth 76.

The notches 60 and 60' are much smaller in size than the main portion ofthe elliptical openings 56. In practice the notches 60 and 60 havecurved end regions and are substantially equal in area to the transversecross sectional area of the strands passed through them.

The openings 56 commonly from to 100 times larger than the crosssectional area of the strands 22. As shown notches 60 and 60' are thesame size.

It is important to have the filaments 20 (strands 22) introduced into anopening 56 find their way into the notch 60. In this regard therelationship between the converging guide surfaces 72 and 74 and theopposing surfaces 78 and 80 at the mouth 76 of the notch 60 is importantin facilitating movement of the filaments 20 (strands 22) into thenotches. In FIG. 5 the angles formed at the corners formed by thesesurfaces are shown as angles C and D. These angles are normally equal.And these angles are larger than 180 and substantially less than 270.Angles C and D are between 200 and 250; an angle of about 240 ispreferred. The corners are shown rounded or radiused to reduce strandabrasion.

FIG. 3 indicates by dashed lines the movement of a group of filaments 20into one of the elongated openings 56 (the left most opening of themember 24) before commencement of package build. The filaments 20 arelaterally moved from their temporary paths and through the passageways62 into the opening 56. Tension in the filaments 20 moves them towardstheir original and temporary paths and into contact with the guidesurfaces, some contacting guide surface 72 and others contacting guidesurface 74. So when the guide surfaces are disposed with respect to thetemporary path of the contacting filaments such that the direction alongwhich the filaments are laterally urged by tension and the guide surfacemaintain an oblique relationship with each other, the filaments aremoved along the surface into the notch 60.

Thus, the invention includes means for providing a tensioned flexiblelinear element extending along a given temporary path; and guide meansfor the linear element that provides both a surface defining a notchlaterally spaced from the temporary path and spaced apart opposing guidesurfaces for facilitating movement of the linear element to the notch.The guide surfaces converge in a direction generally towards the path tothe mouth of the notch. Each of the opposing surfaces of the notch atits mouth meets with a conve rging guide surface to form an angle largerthan 180 and substantially less than 270. The guide means furtherprovides an opening for lateral introduction of the linear element fromits temporary path into the spaced between the converging guidessurface. Tension in the lin ear element urges the element towards itsoriginal path and into contact with one of the guide surfaces. Thecontacted guide surface is disposed with respect to the given path suchthat the direction along which the linear element is urged by tensiontoward the given temporary path and the guide surface maintain anoblique relationship with each other throughout movement of the linearmovement on the guide surface into the notch.

The guide shoe 24 both gathers filaments 20 and guides strands 22; theshoe 34 only guides strands.

The operation of the member 24 has been described in relation to thenotch 60. It is readily apparent, however, that the member 24 can belocated with respect to the temporary path such that tension moves thefilaments 20 along converging guide surfaces into the notch 60.

FIG. 6 shows a portion of a modified guide member 124 according to theprinciples of the invention. The member 124 includes an opening 156 inthe shape of a square. The member 124 further includes opposing notches160 and 160 like the notches 60 and 60 of the member 24 (and member 34).The notches are at opposite corner regions of the square opening 156.

A passageway 162 allows introduction of linear elements into the opening156.

Further, the shape of the opening provides two guiding zones tofacilitate movement of linear elements to a guide notch (notches 160 and160'). And these zones each include spaced apart guide surfacesconverging to the mouth of a notch. In FIG. 6 guide surfaces 172 and 174meet the notch 160 at its mouth. Like the surfaces of the openings 56the guide surfaces 172 and 174 meet the notch surfaces 178 and 180respectively to form an angle larger than 180 and substantially lessthan 270.

FIG. 7 shows a portion of another modified guiding member 224 accordingto the principles of the invention. The member 12 includes an elongatedopening 256 in the shape of a rectangle and a. passageway 262 forlateral introduction of linear elements into the opening 256. The memberhas opposing notches 260 and 260' at opposite corner regions of theopening 256.

Like the openings in the other members, the opening 256 provides twoguiding zones to facilitate movement of linear elements to a guidenotch. And these zones each include spaced apart guidesurfacesconverging to the mouth of a notch. In FIG. -7 guide surfaces 272 and274 meet the notch 260 at its mouth. Notch surfaces 278 and 280 at themouth meet the guide surfaces 278 and 280 respectively to form an anglelarger than 180 and substantially less than 270.

FIG. 8 shows still another modified guide member. i.e., guide member324, according to the principles of the invention. Member 324 includesextensions 325 having oblique surfaces 372 and 374 that converge to forma somewhat V-shaped space 356 between them. A notch 360 is situated atthe base or apex region of each of the V-shaped spaces.

Like the other guide members the angles formed between the convergingguide surfaces and the respective notch surfaces form an angle largerthan 180 and substantially less than 270.

Member 334 is especially suited for movement into a group of linearelements. The converging guide surfaces 372 and 374 move the engagedlinear elements into their respective notches. Hence, the member 334, aswith the other members, might be movable rather than fixed in locationas shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for guiding a linear element comprising:

means for providing a tensioned flexible linear element extending alonga given temporary path; and

guide means for the linear element providing a surface defining a notchthrough which the linear element is extended along an operational path,thev notch bieng laterally spaced from the temporary path, the guidemeans including spaced apart opposing guide surfaces for facilitatingmovement of the element into the notch, such guide surfaces convergingin a direction generally towards the path to the mouth of the notch, thesurface defining the notch including opposing surface portions at itsmouth, each of these surface portions meeting with one of the convergingguide surfaces to form an angle larger than 180 and substantially lessthan 270, the guide means further providing an opening for lateralintroduction of the linear element from its temporary path into thespace between the converging guide surfaces, the linear element beinglaterally urged by tension towards the temporary path and into contactwith one of the guide surfaces after introduction into the space, thecontacted guide surface being disposed with respect to the temporarypath such that the direction along which the linear element is urged bytension towards such path and the contacted guide surface maintain anoblique relationship with each other throughout movement of the linearelement on the guide surface to the notch.

2. Apparatus for guiding a linear element comprising:

7 means for advancing a tensioned flexible linear element extendingalong a given temporary path; and

guide means for the linear element providing a surface defining a notchthrough which the linear element is advanced along an operational path,the notch being laterally spaced form the temporary path, the guidemeans including spaced apart opposing guide surfaces for facilitatingmovement of the element into the notch, such guide surfaces convergingin a direction towards the path to the mouth of the notch, the surfacedefining the notch including opposing surface portions at its mouth,each of these surface portions meeting with one of the converging guidesurfaces to form an angle larger than and substantiallyless than 270,the guide means further providing an opening for lateral introduction ofthe linear element from its temporary path into the guide space betweenthe converging guide surfaces, the linear element being laterally urgedby tension towards the temporary path and into contact with one of theguide sur faces after introduction into the space, the contacted guidesurface being disposed with respect to the temporary path such that thedirection along which the linear element is urged by tension towardssuch path and the contacted guide surface maintain an obliquerelationship with each other throughout movement of the linear elementon the guide surface to the notch.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 in which the angles formed by each of theopposing surface portions of the notch and a converging guide surfaceare equal.

4. Apparatus of claim 2 in which the angles are between 200 and 250.

5. Apparatus of claim 2 in which the guide surfaces are convex.

6. Apparatus of claim 2 in which the guide surfaces are planar.

7. Apparatus for guiding linear elements comprising:

means for providing a group of side-by-side tensioned flexible linearelements extending along a given temporary path; and

guide means for the linear elements providing surfaces through whichindividual linear elements are advanced along operational paths, thenotches being laterally spaced from the temporary paths, the guide meansproviding spaced apart opposing pairs of guide surfaces each pair forfacilitating movement of a linear element into one of the notches, eachof the pairs of guide surfaces converging in a direction towards thepaths to one of the notches, the surface defining each of the notchesincluding opposing guide surface portions at its mouth, each of thesesurface portions meeting with one of the converging guide surfaces toform an angle larger than 180 and substantially less than 270, the guidemeans further providing an opening for lateral introduction of linearelements from their temporary paths into the'guide spaces between thepairs of converging guide surfaces, the linear elements being laterallyurged by tension towards their given paths and into contact with one ofthe guide surfaces after introduction into a space, the contacted guidesurfaces being disposed with redefining adjacent side-by-side notches fspect to the temporary paths such that the directions along which thelinear elements are urged by tension towards such paths and thecontacted guide surfaces maintain oblique relationships with each otherthroughout movement of the linear elements on the guide surfaces to thenotches.

8. Apparatus of claim 7 in which the guide means is a single member.

9. Apparatus for processing spaced apart linear elements comprising:

means for linearly advancing a group of side-by-side adjacent tensionedlinear elements along given temporary paths; and

a guide member for the linear elements laterally spaced from thetemporary paths of the group, the member having side-by-side spacedapart elongated openings therethrough, each of the openings beingoriented with its longitudinal axis extending in a direction towards thegroup and including a notch at its end region nearest the group throughwhich a linear element is advanced along an operational path, each ofthe openings being defined from its mid-region to the mouth of its notchby spaced apart guide surfaces facilitating movement of a linear elementinto the notch, the guide surfaces converging in a direction towards thegroup, each of the surfaces defining a notch including opposing guidesurface portions at its mouth, each of these surface portions meetingone of the converging guide surfaces to form an angle larger than 180and substantially less than 270, the guide member having a passage forlateral introduction of a linear element from its temporary path intoeach of the openings, the linear elements being laterally urged bytension towards their given paths and into contact with one of theconverging guide surfaces after introduction into the openings, thecontacted guide surfaces being disposed with respect to the given pathssuch that the direction along which the linear elements are urged bytension against such surfaces towards their given paths and theorientation of the contacted guide surfaces maintain an obliquerelationship with each other throughout movement of the linear elementsalong the guide surfaces into the recesses.

10. Apparatus of claim 9 in which the openings are the same size and thelongitudinal axes of the openings are mutually parallel.

11. Apparatus of claim 10 in which the guide member is longitudinal andthe openings are aligned in a direction parallel to the longitudinalaxis of such member.

12. Apparatus of claim 1 l in which the openings are elliptical in shapeand each of the notches is disposed on the longitudinal axis of itsassociated opening.

13. Apparatus of claim 12 in which the guide member has openings eachwith a second notch opposite the first notch.

14. Apparatus for handling a plurality of strands for collection into apackage comprising:

means for supplying a group of side-by-side strands along temporarypaths;

means for rotating the collector; and

guide members for the strands providing surfaces defining adjacentside-by-side notches through which the individual strands are advancedalong their collection paths to the package, the notches being laterallyspaced from the temporary paths, the guide member having spaced apartopposing pairs of guide surfaces each pair for facilitating movement ofa strand into one of the notches, each of the pairs of guide surfacesconverging in a direction towards the group to one of the notches, eachof the surfaces defining each of the notches including opposing guidesurface portions at its mouth, each of these surface portions meetingwith one of the pairs of converging guide surfaces to form an anglebetween 200 and 250, the guide member further having an opening forlateral introduction of strands from their temporary paths into theguide spaces between the pairs of converging guide surfaces, the strandsbeing laterally urged by tension towards their given paths and intocontact with one of the guide surfaces after introduction into one ofthe spaces, the contacted guide surfaces being disposed with respect tothe temporary paths such that the directions along which the strands areurged by tension towards such paths and the orientation of the contactedguide surfaces maintain oblique relationships with each other throughoutmovement of the strands along the guide surfaces into the notches.

15. Apparatus for producing continuous glass filaments comprising:

means for supplying streams of molten glass for attenuation intocontinuous glass filaments which are gathered into strands;

a rotatable collet;

a tube upon which the strands are advanced to be wound as a package, thetube being shorter than the collet and being telescoped thereon suchthan an end portion of the collet projects beyond the tube for temporarystrand collection prior to commencement of package formation;

means for rotating the collet;

rotary traversing means for distributing the strands lengthwise of thepackage during formation thereof; and

guide member for gathering the filaments into a group of side-by sidestrands, the guide member having surfaces defining adjacent side-by-sidenotches through which the individual strands are advanced along theircollection paths to the package, the notches being laterally spaced fromthe temporary filament collection paths to the collet, the guide memberhaving spaced apart opposing pairs of guide surfaces each forfacilitating filament movement into one of the notches, each of thepairs of guide surfaces converging in a direction to one of the notches,each of the surfaces defining each of the notches including opposingguide surface portions at its mouth, each of these surface portionsmeeting with one of the pairs of converging guide surfaces to form anangle between 200 and 250, the guide member further having an openingfor lateral introduction of filaments from their temporary paths intothe guide spaces between the pairs of converging guide surfaces, thefilaments being laterally urged by tension towards their given paths andinto contact with one of the guide surfaces after introduction into oneof the spaces, the contacted guide surfaces being disposed with respectto the temporary paths such that the directions along which thefilaments are 1 1 urged by tension towards such paths and theorientation of the contacted guide surfaces maintain obliquerelationship with each other throughout movement of the filaments alongthe guide surfaces into the notches.

16. Apparatus for processing spaced apart linear elenotches includingopposing surface portions at its mouth, each of these surface portionsmeeting a surface portion defining its associated oval opening, theguide member having a passageway for lateral introduction of a linearelement into each of the oval openings.

ments comprising:

a linear element guide member having side-by-side spaced apart ovalopenings therethrough, each of the oval openings including a notch ateach of its end regions, the surfaces of the member defining the ovalopenings facilitating movement of linear elements extending through theopenings into the notches, each of the surfaces defining each of the

1. Apparatus for guiding a linear element comprising: means forproviding a tensioned flexible linear element extending along a giventemporary path; and guide means for the linear element providing asurface defining a notch through which the linear element is extendedalong an operational path, the notch bieng laterally spaced from thetemporary path, the guide means including spaced apart opposing guidesurfaces for facilitating movement of the element into the notch, suchguide surfaces converging in a direction generally towards the path tothe mouth of the notch, the surface defining the notch includingopposing surface portions at its mouth, each of these surface portionsmeeting with one of the conveRging guide surfaces to form an anglelarger than 180* and substantially less than 270*, the guide meansfurther providing an opening for lateral introduction of the linearelement from its temporary path into the space between the convergingguide surfaces, the linear element being laterally urged by tensiontowards the temporary path and into contact with one of the guidesurfaces after introduction into the space, the contacted guide surfacebeing disposed with respect to the temporary path such that thedirection along which the linear element is urged by tension towardssuch path and the contacted guide surface maintain an obliquerelationship with each other throughout movement of the linear elementon the guide surface to the notch.
 2. Apparatus for guiding a linearelement comprising: means for advancing a tensioned flexible linearelement extending along a given temporary path; and guide means for thelinear element providing a surface defining a notch through which thelinear element is advanced along an operational path, the notch beinglaterally spaced form the temporary path, the guide means includingspaced apart opposing guide surfaces for facilitating movement of theelement into the notch, such guide surfaces converging in a directiontowards the path to the mouth of the notch, the surface defining thenotch including opposing surface portions at its mouth, each of thesesurface portions meeting with one of the converging guide surfaces toform an angle larger than 180* and substantially less than 270*, theguide means further providing an opening for lateral introduction of thelinear element from its temporary path into the guide space between theconverging guide surfaces, the linear element being laterally urged bytension towards the temporary path and into contact with one of theguide surfaces after introduction into the space, the contacted guidesurface being disposed with respect to the temporary path such that thedirection along which the linear element is urged by tension towardssuch path and the contacted guide surface maintain an obliquerelationship with each other throughout movement of the linear elementon the guide surface to the notch.
 3. Apparatus of claim 2 in which theangles formed by each of the opposing surface portions of the notch anda converging guide surface are equal.
 4. Apparatus of claim 2 in whichthe angles are between 200* and 250*.
 5. Apparatus of claim 2 in whichthe guide surfaces are convex.
 6. Apparatus of claim 2 in which theguide surfaces are planar.
 7. Apparatus for guiding linear elementscomprising: means for providing a group of side-by-side tensionedflexible linear elements extending along a given temporary path; andguide means for the linear elements providing surfaces defining adjacentside-by-side notches through which individual linear elements areadvanced along operational paths, the notches being laterally spacedfrom the temporary paths, the guide means providing spaced apartopposing pairs of guide surfaces each pair for facilitating movement ofa linear element into one of the notches, each of the pairs of guidesurfaces converging in a direction towards the paths to one of thenotches, the surface defining each of the notches including opposingguide surface portions at its mouth, each of these surface portionsmeeting with one of the converging guide surfaces to form an anglelarger than 180* and substantially less than 270*, the guide meansfurther providing an opening for lateral introduction of linear elementsfrom their temporary paths into the guide spaces between the pairs ofconverging guide surfaces, the linear elements being laterally urged bytension towards their given paths and into contact with one of the guidesurfaces after introduction into a space, the contacted guide surfacesbeing disposed with respect to the temporary paths such that thedirections along which The linear elements are urged by tension towardssuch paths and the contacted guide surfaces maintain obliquerelationships with each other throughout movement of the linear elementson the guide surfaces to the notches.
 8. Apparatus of claim 7 in whichthe guide means is a single member.
 9. Apparatus for processing spacedapart linear elements comprising: means for linearly advancing a groupof side-by-side adjacent tensioned linear elements along given temporarypaths; and a guide member for the linear elements laterally spaced fromthe temporary paths of the group, the member having side-by-side spacedapart elongated openings therethrough, each of the openings beingoriented with its longitudinal axis extending in a direction towards thegroup and including a notch at its end region nearest the group throughwhich a linear element is advanced along an operational path, each ofthe openings being defined from its mid-region to the mouth of its notchby spaced apart guide surfaces facilitating movement of a linear elementinto the notch, the guide surfaces converging in a direction towards thegroup, each of the surfaces defining a notch including opposing guidesurface portions at its mouth, each of these surface portions meetingone of the converging guide surfaces to form an angle larger than 180*and substantially less than 270*, the guide member having a passage forlateral introduction of a linear element from its temporary path intoeach of the openings, the linear elements being laterally urged bytension towards their given paths and into contact with one of theconverging guide surfaces after introduction into the openings, thecontacted guide surfaces being disposed with respect to the given pathssuch that the direction along which the linear elements are urged bytension against such surfaces towards their given paths and theorientation of the contacted guide surfaces maintain an obliquerelationship with each other throughout movement of the linear elementsalong the guide surfaces into the recesses.
 10. Apparatus of claim 9 inwhich the openings are the same size and the longitudinal axes of theopenings are mutually parallel.
 11. Apparatus of claim 10 in which theguide member is longitudinal and the openings are aligned in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis of such member.
 12. Apparatus of claim11 in which the openings are elliptical in shape and each of the notchesis disposed on the longitudinal axis of its associated opening. 13.Apparatus of claim 12 in which the guide member has openings each with asecond notch opposite the first notch.
 14. Apparatus for handling aplurality of strands for collection into a package comprising: means forsupplying a group of side-by-side strands along temporary paths; meansfor rotating the collector; and guide members for the strands providingsurfaces defining adjacent side-by-side notches through which theindividual strands are advanced along their collection paths to thepackage, the notches being laterally spaced from the temporary paths,the guide member having spaced apart opposing pairs of guide surfaceseach pair for facilitating movement of a strand into one of the notches,each of the pairs of guide surfaces converging in a direction towardsthe group to one of the notches, each of the surfaces defining each ofthe notches including opposing guide surface portions at its mouth, eachof these surface portions meeting with one of the pairs of convergingguide surfaces to form an angle between 200* and 250*, the guide memberfurther having an opening for lateral introduction of strands from theirtemporary paths into the guide spaces between the pairs of convergingguide surfaces, the strands being laterally urged by tension towardstheir given paths and into contact with one of the guide surfaces afterintroduction into one of the spaces, the contacted guide surfaces beingdisposed with respect to the temporary paths such that the directionsalong which the strands are urged by tension towards such paths and theorientation of the contacted guide surfaces maintain obliquerelationships with each other throughout movement of the strands alongthe guide surfaces into the notches.
 15. Apparatus for producingcontinuous glass filaments comprising: means for supplying streams ofmolten glass for attenuation into continuous glass filaments which aregathered into strands; a rotatable collet; a tube upon which the strandsare advanced to be wound as a package, the tube being shorter than thecollet and being telescoped thereon such than an end portion of thecollet projects beyond the tube for temporary strand collection prior tocommencement of package formation; means for rotating the collet; rotarytraversing means for distributing the strands lengthwise of the packageduring formation thereof; and guide member for gathering the filamentsinto a group of side-by side strands, the guide member having surfacesdefining adjacent side-by-side notches through which the individualstrands are advanced along their collection paths to the package, thenotches being laterally spaced from the temporary filament collectionpaths to the collet, the guide member having spaced apart opposing pairsof guide surfaces each for facilitating filament movement into one ofthe notches, each of the pairs of guide surfaces converging in adirection to one of the notches, each of the surfaces defining each ofthe notches including opposing guide surface portions at its mouth, eachof these surface portions meeting with one of the pairs of convergingguide surfaces to form an angle between 200* and 250*, the guide memberfurther having an opening for lateral introduction of filaments fromtheir temporary paths into the guide spaces between the pairs ofconverging guide surfaces, the filaments being laterally urged bytension towards their given paths and into contact with one of the guidesurfaces after introduction into one of the spaces, the contacted guidesurfaces being disposed with respect to the temporary paths such thatthe directions along which the filaments are urged by tension towardssuch paths and the orientation of the contacted guide surfaces maintainoblique relationship with each other throughout movement of thefilaments along the guide surfaces into the notches.
 16. Apparatus forprocessing spaced apart linear elements comprising: a linear elementguide member having side-by-side spaced apart oval openingstherethrough, each of the oval openings including a notch at each of itsend regions, the surfaces of the member defining the oval openingsfacilitating movement of linear elements extending through the openingsinto the notches, each of the surfaces defining each of the notchesincluding opposing surface portions at its mouth, each of these surfaceportions meeting a surface portion defining its associated oval opening,the guide member having a passageway for lateral introduction of alinear element into each of the oval openings.
 17. Apparatus of claim 16in which the member is elongated and the oval openings are spaced apartalong a direction lengthwise of the member.
 18. Apparatus of claim 17 inwhich the longitudinal axis of at least one of the oval openings isoriented in oblique relationship to the longitudinal axis of the member.